Pirates A $1.3B Operation, Still Incredibly Skimpy On Salaries

PITTSBURGH, PA — The "small-market" Pirates franchise is a billion-dollar operation, according to the latest Forbes Major League Baseball team valuation estimates. Yet the Bucs still cry poverty, with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball and the team thus far failing to negotiate with Bryan Reynolds - their best player -on a long-term contract.

Forbes values the Pirates at $1.3 billion, which ranks 23rd among MLB's 30 teams. The New York Yankees' $6 billion estimate made them the most valuable team, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers ($4.075 billion), Boston Red Sox ($3.9 billion), division rival Chicago Cubs ($3.8 billioaheadn) and SanFrancisco Giants ($3.5 billion).

But the Bucs still had a higher valuation than two small-market teams in the National League's Central division. The Milwaukee Brewers are valued at $1.2 billion and the Cincinnati Reds at $1.1 billion.

Yet the Brewers have an estimated 2022 payroll of $118 million and the Reds are expected to pay their players $99 million. The Pirates' projected payroll is $37 million,according to Spotrac, ahead only of the Cleveland Guardians and Baltimore Orioles.

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